School News

Do you want to expose your kids to some truly unique and exciting music at the Collinwood Rec Center? Doug Wood, who has been collaborating with musicians to offer free educational concerts and workshops in the Collinwood area, has organized another kids' concert/workshop geared for kids between the ages of 5 through 9. 

On Saturday, April 27th at 2 pm, Doug Wood, along with musicians Brent Kirby, Ryann Anderson and Janice Pohl will be educating and performing songs during the concert. Come on down and have some fun.

Doug Wood was awarded one of the CPAC Artist In Residence Grants, and is coordinating several music workshops for the youths in our Collinwood region. He is a musician, a performer, and an agency owner.

Former NFL player James Cotton, 1994 Collinwood grad, is teaming with the American Lung Association to discourage students from smoking. Cotton is traveling around the school district to spread his message of "don't smoke."

With a 42% drop in serious safety incidents in Cleveland’s public schools, members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Education invited Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Eric Gordon to share the success of the district’s “Humanware” initiative in keeping students safe.

Part of CMSD’s strategic plan is to address conditions for learning at the schools, so all students are both academically and socially equipped to succeed.  CMSD’s “Humanware” initiative was added to the “Hardware” initiative already in place to ensure a safe, well managed, respectful and supportive learning environment.

CMSD students and their book bags pass through metal detectors at the entrance to each school that, along with video surveillance and x-ray machines, have provided assurance to students and their families that CMSD has a zero tolerance for anything that might threaten the safety of students.

“It’s not enough to just have the hardware,” says Safety & Security Chief Lester Fultz.  “We also have to help students manage emotions and behaviors that lead to unsafe conditions.”

CMSD’s ‘Humanware’ program provides opportunities for all students to acquire social and emotional competencies through evidence-based programs that teach students to manage their emotions, show empathy toward others, form positive relationships, work in teams, deal effectively with conflict and make good choices about personal and social issues.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District turned to social media last month to get perspectives on The Cleveland Plan and urged parents, guardians, teachers, and community and civic leaders weigh in.

And weigh in they did.

An online chat brought comments from scores of people, whose thoughts ranged from praise to thoughtful criticism.

The comments showed how much interest people and local institutions had in the new direction CMSD is heading under its four-year plan.

One person wrote: “Increasing college enrollment is a no-brainer, but I continue to think good kids, whose ambitions may not include college, are slipping through the cracks. In Germany and Japan, they seem to have a robust system for those types of kids so they get a shot at good technical jobs. This is an issue in every school … not just CMSD”

Another person wrote: “Make language in The Cleveland Plan more simple…”

Another person wrote: “We recommend that arts language in the plan describe an administrative strategy for the arts and the arts relationship with the arts community that is measurable.”   

Several people got a direct response from CEO Eric Gordon, who had encouraged people to share their concerns.

As soon as you entered St. Jerome School library this February you could see the bold colors, beautiful garb, and authentic artifacts of Nigeria, Africa. Hand guitars, vibrant hair ties, hand fans, leather rugs, sandals and much more decorated the library from the rafters to the eye-level of preschoolers. Ms. Stephanie Uzomah, the school librarian had transformed the book haven into a Nigerian oasis for students, faculty and staff to explore and to learn in.

Mrs. Susan Coan, the St. Jerome School Principal, said she was excited to see that Ms. Uzomah had taken it upon herself to create such a great experience for the St. Jerome students.

“She has given the students something that they may have not otherwise had,” Coan said. “These type of learning experiences last a lifetime.”

Ms. Uzomah was not born in Nigeria, but has been married to her Nigerian husband for well over a decade.

Ms. Uzomah, who goes lovingly by Ms. Stephanie, admits that she wasn’t always so into Nigerian culture.

“It took some time for me to adjust to certain traditions and cuisine,” she said. “But out of respect and love for my husband, marriage and my children, I began to immerse myself into it [culture], and I began to really love it.”

Ms. Stephanie said she wanted to bring this experience to the children of St. Jerome School to expose them to what Africa is really like.

“Students have a lot of stereotypical thoughts about Africa,” Ms. Stephanie said. “I wanted students to open up a dialogue and break the ignorance that people have about Africa. Africa has malls, beaches, zoos, day cares, and cities. Many students didn’t know that.”

The Greater Cleveland Partnership has announced its endorsement of CEO Eric Gordon requesting to the Cleveland Board of Education to file the necessary application with the Ohio Board of Education to waive State appointment of an Academic Distress Commission. 

This action was in direct response to a letter issued by the Ohio Department of Education recently, and as part of the authority granted to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District by the Cleveland Plan legislation.

Cleveland’s extraordinary reform efforts, and, specifically, the already-developed Plan for Transforming Cleveland’s Schools, is the reason why the waiver option was included in the historic legislation, Gordon said.  

“This alternative to state oversight, made possible by House Bill 525, for which so many members of our school community worked, paves the way for Cleveland to continue implementation of the Cleveland Plan,” he said.

“We are optimistic that, with the plan that is already underway, and with the support we garnered this year from Governor John Kasich and state legislators on both sides of the aisle, the State will grant the waiver we seek.”

Gordon said he is optimistic that the district has the ‘Right Plan, Right Now’ for reforming Cleveland’s schools.

“The Cleveland community’s broad support for system-wide reform, the courageous bi-partisan support of the Ohio legislature in passing House Bill 525, and the clearly articulated accountability measures outlined in the Cleveland Plan, have positioned the District for the success we all envision,” he said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has revised its lunch programs in school districts across the United States to feature more healthy options for students and fewer foods high in sugars and fats.

During a visit to Cleveland last month, Kevin Concannon, USDA undersecretary, spoke to representatives from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, visited a couple of District schools and held at summit at Cleveland Clinic where he shared the importance of nutritious foods in school cafeterias.

Concannon said the new standards were the outgrowth of the historic “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010,” legislation designed to combat child hunger and obesity.

He called childhood obesity a public health crisis, and while more federal money to fight the problem would help, he and others who joined him at the Clinic all conceded that more dollars are not forthcoming. They all agreed that the fight to improve children’s eating habits must be a multi-pronged initiative.

A member of the VASJ Hall of Fame, Timothy McCormack ’62, returned to where his road to a career in law and public service began more than 50 years ago: The Viking Village.

Before an impressive array of black-robed judges, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence O’Donnell swore in McCormack as a judge in the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals. The ceremony took place at a school assembly in the Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School gym on Monday, December 17. In attendance were the entire VASJ student body, faculty and staff, as well as dozens of family members, public officials and supporters.

“I asked to come here today not out of nostalgia, but because of what you are today,” McCormack told the students. “VASJ is one of America’s most important schools. That is not an overstatement.

“You come from very diverse religious backgrounds,” he continued. “But this place – you – are a living expression of Christ’s teaching. You do not all look the same – each of you is a complex young person – but together you are a beautiful combination, dedicated to each other.”

Students and guests reacted to McCormack’s heartfelt words with enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation.
“He really captured the essence of what our school stands for,” said VASJ President Richard Osborne ’69. “It says a great deal about his experience here that he chose to share this important day with us.”

Emily Robinson is the Director of Communications at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School.

The Viking Village has been a healthy frenzy of activity over the past few months and we greeted the new year with a spirit of optimism and excitement. Several events brought to mind the important place our school has in the community we serve, while also reminding us of the honor and responsibility we have to preserve the legacy and tradition we represent.

The loss of Viking legend Bill Gutbrod this past November was certainly such an occasion.
The example of sportsmanship and perseverance he set remains a powerful force even now, and our basketball and football players paid tribute to him in a touching display of reverence as they saluted the funeral procession when it wound its way past the school’s front entrance.

The new Viking Color Guard stood at the entrance, flanked by players who silently acknowledged Coach Gutbrod’s place in our school’s history.

The honor roll students at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School were recognized at an all-school assembly on Thursday, January 31.

Every January, the Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School community comes together for the annual Founders Day liturgy and celebration. The month of January marks the feast day of St. Angela Merici, foundress of the Ursuline Sisters, and Chaminade Day, named for Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, founder of the Society of Mary.

The 2012 issue of Ventures, VASJ’s literary magazine, was one of the best in years. “We did more planning than any magazine before – a lot of time and effort was put into it,” says Maria Dybzinski ’13, one of the magazine’s editors. “We really wanted to make it good for (English teacher) Mrs. (Charlene) Dayton since it was her last year.” (Mrs. Dayton retired in May after more than two decades of teaching English at VASJ).

The 40th Annual March for Life was held in Washington D.C. on January 25. Once again, members of the Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School community were there to participate in the event.

Brandon Peck is a 12th grade student at Collinwood High School in the Interior & Fashion Design Academy. He has recently been accepted into the Key Bank Cleveland Play House College Program. Currently, Brandon also participates in Young Audiences' Artworks Apprenticeship Program. As a member of this program, he is given the opportunity to create exciting, original work in theater, dance, music or visual arts. His future plans are focused on filmmaking, acting and dramatic writing. Great Job, Brandon. 

Sherrell Germany-Clark is a school counselor at Collinwood High School.

The school year continues to be off to a great start and we are getting ready for our Christmas Worship Service. Our school Open House is just around the corner on Sunday January 27, 2013 from 1:00-4:00 PM. 

St. John Nottingham is just like our mission statement: a family of Christians. I agree with this statement wholeheartedly.  That is why I have my children at St. John Nottingham. In today's society a family atmosphere is not enough. There are more and more demands coming for our children than we ever had. Let me take just a moment to highlight the new programs we implemented for this school year:

• We are added a keyboarding program for grades K-8. This will track their progress from year to year. In 2014-2015 the state assessments will all be online and the students will need to type their answers. Keyboarding is also an essential skill for all students.
• We are implementing Accelerated Reader. If the students are not fluent readers they cannot reach their potential in any subject, even math. This is a nationally recognized program and researched-based to improve reading. This will be for all students.
• We are utilizing STAR Reading and Math assessments next year for all students. We will collect data on student growth 3-4 times a year so we can accurately measure students needs in the classroom.
• We continue to have students take High School Algebra via our Distance Learning Lab.

There are exciting things happening everyday at St. John Nottingham Lutheran School. Let me give you a quick look into our first grade classroom.

Merry Christmas and God's richest blessings to you and your family! I hope to see you all at our:

OPEN HOUSE ON SUNDAY JANUARY 27, 2013 from 1:00-4:00 PM at 1027 East 176th Street, Cleveland, OH 44119.  Phone number 216-531-8204 or visit our website at www.stjohnnottingham.org.

Serving His kids,

Gregory Kita, Principal, St. John Nottingham

DeAndrew Wilson, a ninth-grader at Collinwood High School looked awestruck. Along with more than 150 boys from CMSD’s Closing the Achievement Gap (CTAG) program, Wilson attended a symposium on Sept. 13 at Martin Luther King Jr. High School to discuss the challenges of growing into men.

He and other boys were in the company of men, all of whom were alumni of all-male Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. The men stressed principles of success, and success starts with confidence.

Wilson left with plenty of the latter. “I learned we can do anything,” he said.

He learned that lesson and more. Speaker after speaker added a brick to the foundation of each boy, but the man who offered Wilson the most useful advice was keynote speaker Basheer Jones, an author, poet, radio personality, political activist and MLK alum.

Creatively carved pumpkins lined the main hallway of St. Jerome School during Halloween week. The eighth-graders of the school participated in a pumpkin carving contest, and all the students of the Collinwood Catholic School were the judges.

Out of 25 entries, Eric Reese-Conner won first place. The custom-carving was a Jack O'Lantern that featured the trademark Nike check as a smirk.

Mr. Dave Novicky, the eighth-grade homeroom teacher, supplied pumpkins and braved the stench and mayhem of 25 teens gutting and creating contest-worthy Jack O' Lanterns.

Chanelle McCloud is a teacher at St. Jerome Elementary School and co-founder of Professchanelle Inspiration.

Issue 107, the 15 mill levy for the Cleveland Metropolitan schools, passed last Tuesday night, with 55% of voters' approval. In Cleveland, an average home's value is $58,000, which means the levy will cost a typical homeowner $264 more a year.

For those who would like to know how the district justifies asking for such a large sum, Collinwood's Nan Kennedy, grandmother of children attending Cleveland public schools has this to offer:

"Pause for a moment: the Cleveland schools were making progress, to wit: graduation rate up 23%; safety incidents down 42%; 23% of schools in the top two ratings in 2010-11, compared to only 9% two years earlier; and 42% rated Continuous Improvement or higher, against only 25%; highest rating from the state auditor for 2007 to 2011.

Then state and federal funding was cut (by $140 million), local tax collections shrank – and the schools cut 595 teachers. Could a drop in funding halt the upward progress? How could it not?..."

Shemaine Baldwin, a ninth-grader at Collinwood High School, listened with interest Sept. 14 as she and a roomful of student leaders from high schools across the Cleveland Metropolitan School District talked about bullying.

A week earlier, she and the others had screened filmmaker Lee Hirsch’s movie “Bully,” a raw, unfiltered look at bullying in a small, Iowa town. Now, they were gathered at the Barbara Byrd Bennett Development Center to dissect what the movie meant.

In Baldwin’s world, bullying is hardly uncommon. Look long enough and she knows she’ll run across an incident of bullying in hallways at Collinwood. No student in the room, however, doubted a high school in Cleveland – or a high school elsewhere in America – would be immune from the problem.

The Memorial Nottingham Library held the first of its three workshops; “Heads Up! Pants Up! Grades Up!” for students from Collinwood High School, on September 19th.  Sixty graduating seniors attended the workshop that taught them how to “create resumes and personal portfolios for their job and college applications.” 

Librarian, Alfonzo Daniels, gave each student a packet of information that included:  “Choosing a College; High School to-do Lists; Applying for College; and Getting Financial Aid.” Students also received sample resumes, a job qualifications list, interview questions, and job search resources and websites. 

“This is a roadmap to guide you and teach you,” Daniels said. “The bottom line is learning how to promote the most important product in your life…and that is YOU!"

“This information is very important. Take it seriously. Perfect your study habits!” he said. 

Two speakers also gave students advice about “becoming an adult” and answered questions about employment.

Michelle N. Pierre-Farid doesn’t officially begin her job as chief academic officer for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District until Aug. 7, but a look into her office on the sixth floor of the Main Administration Building shows Pierre-Farid is getting a jump-start on her duties.

She spent a week in her new office this month putting a foundation in place for what she describes as an “exciting” opportunity. Pierre-Farid talked to staff, met principals and also attended groundbreaking ceremonies at the new Almira PreK-8 School on the city’s West Side.

But on her office wall was the real work she had done. Scribbled on the large sheets of lined-yellow paper hung on one wall, she had notes that came from brainstorming sessions. One theme stood out: “One Team, One Goal.”

“I believe in teamwork,” said Pierre-Farid, the outgoing executive director of New Leaders, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that trains principals. “I believe in the collective purpose of the team.”

Gov. John Kasich signed the “Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools” into law Monday inside the auditorium at John F. Kennedy High School, an action that trumpets a new beginning for the 43,000 students enrolled in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

In signing the legislation, Kasich thanked members of the Cleveland Teachers Union and their leadership for being receptive to the transformation, which came at a cost to union membership. “But they demonstrated that they could put the kids first,” Kasich said. “It’s fantastic what is happening here.”

What is happening, said Kasich and Mayor Frank Jackson, who led the effort to get the measure passed, is that Cleveland’s schools have the legislative muscle to improve learning and reshape educational outcomes. The legislation removes obstacles that, CEO Eric Gordon had said, stalled the changes he had sought to remake a school system that produced far too many dropouts and not enough positive outcomes.

Eric Webb, a rising ninth-grader at Collinwood High School, sat in the middle of the cafetorium with 90 other students and listened as attorney DeAngelo D. Little, talked about the expectations for him and his classmates in the Class of 2016.

“What we’re saying to you here – and what we’re trying to show – is it takes work,” Little said. “You can say you want to do anything in the world, but it takes work.”

Little’s message is one that organizers of “Summer Bridge,” a program of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District that bridges the gap between eighth and ninth grade, wanted students like Webb to hear.

For four weeks this summer, black and Hispanic males gathered three times each week at George Washington Carver School to learn skills that will help them navigate the academic and social pitfalls of ninth grade.

Summer Bridge is the little brother of the Closing the Achievement Gap (CTAG) program, a federal Race to the Top initiative that fights to keep black males like Webb and Hispanic males as well from dropping out. The success of this effort is built on early intervention, which is what both programs provide.

The cost to students like Webb? Their time.

One of the best kept secrets in all of Cleveland is the Early Learning Center at YWCA Greater Cleveland. Yes, you’ll find children at play, and early childhood education at its best.

Collinwood residents Darlene and Johnny English have seen all three of their children grow and learn at the Early Learning Center, and they especially appreciate the devotion of the staff.  “I appreciate their experience and believe that they love each child and recognize their unique responsibilities in helping to develop each individual.  I have personally seen several teachers go above and beyond their job descriptions to do what was in the best interest of the child,” says Ms. English.

Everyone on staff is doing what they love most – working with children and helping families establish a solid educational foundation for their children’s future.

Early Learning Center parents are kept engaged and up to date through a Parental Advisory Council, a monthly newsletter highlighting achievements and daily communication with teachers. “The center is designed to serve as an extension of the home, so we welcome and encourage parental and family involvement. Our success is the result of the partnerships that we form between parents, their children and the teachers,” says Program DirectorChristine Davis.   

Local business and civic leaders saluted 51 teenage girls from Collinwood High School on Wednesday, June 20 for doing what the odds said the girls would likely not do: get their diploma.

But the girls proved that a little love can go a long way in turning an at-risk teen into a high-school grad.

And that’s what the 51 girls are now, thanks to “Believe to Achieve,” a pilot program that Project Love, a nonprofit, brought to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District five years ago.

Congratulations to the Collinwood Teaching Professions’ robotics team of Victor Mallory and De’Vaughn Killingsworth who represented their high school in the Cone Zone Challenge held at the Great Lakes Science Center on Saturday, May, 19, 2012. The event, sponsored by Cuyahoga Community College, was a culminating experience for students enrolled in the Youth Technology Academy. Competitors were required to build and program a robot capable of grasping a billiard ball, then depositing it in a cone-shaped receptacle.

The competition consisted of two rounds. Upon completion of the first round, Victor and De’Vaughn found themselves in fourth place, a position good enough to advance them to the semi-finals. Victor and De’Vaughn gave a valiant effort in the semi-final round, but their robot was defeated in three matches. Although they did not bring back the trophy, De’Vaughn and Victor made Collinwood proud. Congratulations, again, on a job well done.

A very large “Thank You” goes to the Collinwood Branch of Cleveland Public Library located at 856 East 152nd Street (216.283.4400), Director Ms. Jeffries and especially to Children’s Librarian, Caroline Peak for organizing a Day Out for GRADS students from Collinwood High School. 

GRADS is an acronym for Graduation, Reality And Dual-role Skills.  The school year 2011-12 marked the twenty-first year that Collinwood has offered GRADS for young teen parents. GRADS is a drop-out prevention program which allows students to network with each other, gain skills and encourage each other in good parenting practices as well coping strategies for the dual role of parent and student. GRADS, locally and state-wide, has been credited for increasing the number of students who remain longer in school and for higher graduation rates. Mrs. Judy Mengel is the teacher/coordinator for GRADS (216.451.4152).

On May 8, 2012, GRADS students gathered at the Collinwood Branch Library for a day of learning, food and fun. Mrs. Peak introduced students to services offered by the library and had a vast display of books and toys available for students to use for interacting with their children in learning and enrichment activities.

On Friday, April 20, 2012, selected students from Collinwood High School participated in the first collaborative Open Mic Friday at the Cleveland Public Library’s Collinwood branch, in Celebration of National Poetry Month.

In the tradition of Nikki Grime’s Bronx Masquerade (a young adult novel about a group of students whose stereotypical views are challenged and changed through poetry), students read original lyric, narrative, haiku, I Am, and love poems. The agenda included remarks by branch manager Ms. Jeffries, young adult librarian, Ms. Peak, and Collinwood Teaching Professions Academy principal, Mrs. Brown. Sophomore Anthony Jackson served as the master of ceremonies.

Open Mic presented the perfect chance for the students of Collinwood High School to showcase their poetic abilities. “I enjoyed it,“ said sophomore, Imani Hudson, who participated by reading her own original poetry. “I got a change to see the talents of my fellow peers, and the staff was nice to us."  As in Grime’s novel, sophomore L’Dejah Orr found that some of her classmates were more than meets the eye. “Open Mic shows a different side of people. Some people try to act tough, but they’re really not.”

Ms. Peak organized the event in collaboration with me, I am Shanita Horton, Collinwood High School English Teacher. Horton. My classes have all read Bronx Masquerade and were excited to have an Open Mic of their own. Ms. Peak saw this as an opportunity to work with students from Collinwood. "It was a pleasure partnering with Collinwood High School students and teachers to celebrate National Poetry Month while sharing library resources. The self-expression through poetry by the students was very inspiring and I look forward to doing it again next year!"

Shanita Horton is a mother of four, teaches at Collinwood High School and loves to read classic literature.

In an effort to appeal to the interests of students throughout the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) has adopted an academy model for many of its high schools. Therefore, Collinwood High School has been restructured in such a way as to offer the students of the Collinwood community, as well as others throughout the city, programming centering around three specific themes. These themes are the foundation for the three academies that now make up the Collinwood Campus: The Advanced Placement Academy, STEM Teaching Professions Academy, and The Academy of Interior & Fashion Design.

Each academy has its own principal, staff and location within the building; however, all students have access to general courses, programs, clubs, sports and extracurricular activities throughout the campus. By choosing one of the three academies to attend, Collinwood students focus their studies based on that choice.

The Advanced Placement Academy, which is led by Principal Kevin Payton, focuses on providing students access to culturally relevant advanced placement courses. These courses allow students to experience project-based learning while earning college credit. This academy is housed primarily on the first floor of the building.

Principal Marnisha Brown is at the helm of the STEM Teaching Professions Academy. This academy concentrates on careers in education with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Students in this academy, which is located on the second floor, have the opportunity to participate in experiences like Robotics and Student Teaching.

On the third floor of the building, The Academy of Interior & Fashion Design led by me, uses design concepts and tools as a way to deliver instruction to students. Through classes in interior design, art and fashion design, students build upon their interests in fashion, environments and design to prepare for life after high school.

Collinwood High School is still the home of the mighty Railroaders. Our three-pronged approach to learning will ensure that we remain that mighty presence on E. 152nd Street and St. Clair Ave.

Crystal Maclin is currently one of three principals at Collinwood High School and is an alumni. She leads The Academy of Interior & Fashion Design.

St. John Nottingham Lutheran School has been serving the Collinwood area for over 118 years. We are pleased that the Christian ideals have remained unchanged for that time period; the teaching style sure has changed.

We are blessed to incorporate technology to enhance the quality education that we have offered for over a century. Our school buildings are completely wireless and have two mobile laptop carts available for students kindergarten-eighth grade. In addition, each classroom has at least two Internet-accessible computers that share network printers. We have a distance-learning lab which allows students to take high school classes for high school credit. All of the classrooms have SMART Boards or will be incorporating Mimio Interactive technology starting with the 2012-2013 school year.    

Our students use the computers in many ways beyond simple writing. We use an online suite of programs called “Study Island” for up-to-the-minute assessment and practice in math, reading and language arts, all of which are directly tied into current state standards. This gives the students accurate, timely feedback on exactly how they are doing in these core subjects: where their strengths lie, and where there is need for improvement. St. John also implements Jupiter Grades, the online grade reporting system that lets students keep accurate track of work, progress, and current standings in any class. (Parents get to use that one, too, much to the chagrin of the student who may be missing an assignment or two…)

There are great things going on right now at St. John Nottingham Lutheran School. For more information or to enroll for next school year please call: 216-531-8204.

Gregory Kita is Principal of St. John Nottingham Lutheran School.

A fifteen-foot tall monster and a few of his friends were spotted at St. Jerome Elementary School recently. Well, they weren't really monsters, but the beautiful artistic creations of Madcap Puppet Theatre.

The entire student body, faculty, and staff of St. Jerome School gathered together, from preschool through eighth grade, and were entertained by the nationally recognized puppet company. Madcap which is based in Cincinnatti, OH, presented, "Jack and the Gentle Giant," a sequel of the classic Jack and the Beanstalk.

The puppets ranged from approximately one foot tall to the "Giant" who appeared to the audience to be about 15 feet tall.

"I was scared," said seventh grader Jaylin Reese jokingly.

The puppeteers revealed at the end of the program that the puppet was only half of a face and that they stood a a ladder behind a curtain to make the puppet appear so tall. The puppeteers told the audience that if the puppet was made in its entirety it would be close to 50 feet tall.

The Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) is a very important examination that determines if students in the state of Ohio will earn a high school diploma. Sophomores are tested in five areas: reading, mathematics, writing, science and social studies. If a student does not pass all five parts of this exam, then he/she has to retake it until it is passed. Thus, many 11th and 12th grade students still have parts of this test to pass. This can be frustrating and exhausting to students that continually fail parts of this test.

In an effort to energize and encourage the sophomores at Collinwood High School, a pep rally was organized to get everyone excited. This pep rally was organized by teachers and included the Collinwood cheerleaders, high steppers, drum line and was DJ'd by DJ M.A.X, sophomore LeJon Kidd. Additionally, Mrs. Marnisha Brown, principal of the STEM teaching professions academy within Collinwood High School, gave a wonderful motivational speech that educated the students on what it means to be a part of the Collinwood railroader family. Seniors Anthony Moore, Mitchell Wilson and Naijee Patterson also offered advice since they passed the OGT during their sophomore year. Guest speaker, the renown DJ Steph Floss of Cleveland radio station Z 107.9, was also in attendance and strongly encouraged the sophomores to do their best and pass the test.

The goal of this pep rally was to get the students excited about taking the OGT and encourage everyone to come to school every day during the week of testing. Getting the students to realize that showing up and putting effort into their work is a necessity and this pep rally delivered that message to the max. The hope is that everyone will pass this exam beginning Monday, March 12, 2012, and be able to graduate. The administrators, teachers and students of Collinwood High School are working hard to make that a reality.

Tashyra Henry is a 12th grade student at Collinwood High School, in the Interior & Fashion Design Academy. Tashyra is an overall outstanding student. She is currently in the top 5% of her senior class. In the Interior & Fashion Design Academy, she is ranked #1 out of 48 other 12th grade students. Despite personal challenges, Tashyra continues to persevere and excel. For this reason, she is an inspiration to her peers and others.

Throughout her high school experience, Tashyra has maintained a 3.0 or higher each year. She currently has a 3.5 GPA. In addition to achieving academically, Tashyra is a member of our JROTC program. She has earned the rank of Cadet Captain, which requires her to lead her peers. As a member of the JROTC  program, she has taken advantage of community service opportunities. She has worked with the Junior Achievement Program and has volunteered at the Salvation Army, where she worked with smaller children in Bible study.

Seven Villa Angela-St. Joseph Viking football players, all seniors, have been chosen to play for the “Stars and Stripes” team that will represent the U.S. in an All-Star game in Rome, Italy, on April 21. On the opposite side of the line of scrimmage will be an Italian All-Star squad—Italy’s national Under-19 team.

Members of the Viking contingent are: tackle John DiDonato, halfback Ryan Gallagher, lineman DiAnte Jackson, linebacker Chris Pokorny, lineman Paul Rini, defensive back Mato Vunak, and center Dan Ward.

In all, the players will spend nine days in Italy, including educational sightseeing activities in Rome, Florence, and the Tuscany region. Accompanying them will be VASJ Head Coach John Storey, who will serve as assistant head coach of the Stars and Stripes team.

This is the fifth year that VASJ seniors have been given the opportunity to play overseas following the completion of their high school football careers. Twice, they’ve traveled to Japan; this will be the third trip to Europe. The participating players are required to find a way to raise the money to cover their travel expenses.

“They will be ambassadors for the United States, in a way, representing American high school football,” Coach Storey points out. “Every one of the VASJ players has at least a 3.0 grade point average.” Danny Ward, he notes, has a very impressive 4.7 GPA. Ryan Gallagher recently received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Jeff Scurran, a teacher and coach from Arizona, will serve as head coach of the American team. While in Italy, the coaches will conduct football clinics for players from both squads.

The students from Ms. Howell's class from Advanced Placement Academy@Collinwood High sponsored an Adopt-a-Senior Day. The students took holiday baskets filled with: cornish hens, stuffing, mac n'cheese, canned fruit & vegetables, milk, yams, spices and much more. Councilman Polensek graced our presence for our community event. The students interacted with their "adoptees" by playing games and conversing with them. The seniors were very appreciative and there were many tear-filled moments between the two groups.Students are required to write to their adoptee and send a self addressed stamped envelope for return.

I felt that the High School students were in need of some positive attention and those selected students were happy to partake and came away from this event richer.

The location was the Holy Redeemer Living Facility.

Here’s a trivia question to test your knowledge of Viking history: What’s the Purple Palace? (Bonus points if you can explain how the name came about.)

Now tune up some quiz-show music in your head. We’ll return with the answers after this message from our sponsors…

Make your reservations now for the 2nd Annual Viking Classic Mixer to be held on April 14 in the Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School gym. Everyone is invited to “have a ball” at this glittering evening filled with memories of Villa Angela Academy, St. Joseph High School and, of course, VASJ.

Starting at 6 pm, guests will be treated to auctions, raffles, dinner, live music, dancing and special surprises too numerous to mention–- all enjoyed under a sparkling dance-floor ball that itself evokes memories of classic mixers way back when.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Larry Morrow, Cleveland’s most venerable broadcaster. Music once again will be provided by Chance, who rocked the house last year and whose members include several alums.

For many VA girls-– not to mention some of us St. Joe boys who occasionally stopped by to see them-– Memory Lane may seem a lot like the long driveway leading to “The Castle” that was the old Villa Angela. For younger alums and friends, it may feel more like a visit to the “new VA” that is now a beautiful branch of the Cleveland Public Library.

As graduation approaches, students at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School are starting to solidify their college plans. For two seniors, that means full four-year scholarships to play football. For another senior, that means acceptance to one of the top colleges in the country.

Chavien Nolcox signed with Youngstown State where he will play as an outside linebacker on their football team, keeping his VASJ jersey number, #46. C. J. Germany signed with Notre Dame College where he will join their football team as a wide receiver and kick returner while also majoring in criminal justice. Ryan Gallagher was admitted into the West Point Class of 2016 at the United States Military Academy where he is considering studying engineering and hopes to walk-on to the football team. He will leave for Cadet Basic Training on July 2, 2012.

Excitement is building for other members of the Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School Class of 2012 as they continue to receive acceptances and scholarship opportunities and get one step closer to making the important decision about where they will continue their education.

Emily Robinson is the Communications & Media Coordinator at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Memorial-Nottingham library held an event on Jan 12th, for history students from Charles W. Eliot Elementary School, titled "King Me!"  The principle bused the 25 students to the library, for this special field trip, where the seventh grade class played a game of Jeopardy, all about Dr. King.

The class was "organized into three teams to compete against each other..." said librarian Alfonzo Daniels.  "Each team picked two captains to choose and answer questions for part I & II."  In Part III, everyone could give input and decide on a final wager. The idea was for the students to learn about the life and accomplishments of civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, and also have fun.

The room had a Jeopardy Board with 6 categories about Dr. King’s life, and each category had 10 questions.

Some of the questions covered in each category included:

Accomplishments:                                                                                                                                                               

Q: Dr. King was awarded the Man of the Year by what magazine, in 1963?

A: Time Magazine                                     

Q: He was the youngest person to receive what annual award in 1994?

A: The Nobel Peace Prize

The Cleveland Job Corps Center celebrated the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by attending the Cleveland Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's Eleventh Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Gala, January 13. The theme was "Anchors for Life's Journey: Salvation, Education, Activism." The Student Ambassadors were able to meet Rev. Dr. E. Theophilus Caviness, President of SCLC and Pastor and Rev Hilton O. Smith, Vice President of SCLC. The Keynote speaker for the evening was City of Warrensville Hts. Mayor and former Ohio State and NBA Basketball player, Brad Sellers. Mayor Sellers said that it was time to change the conditions we live in by making a difference in our communities.

Forty Student Ambassadors volunteered at the Masonic Auditorium for the 2012 Homeless StandDown. The over 800 veterans and homeless people at this event enjoyed haircuts, medical screening, service providers, and free winter clothing.

The mission of the Cleveland Job Corps Center is preparing our students for leadership, and having an impact in their neighborhoods. History books are full of examples of what youth have the potential to accomplish. Our collective future depends on it. The legacy continues...CJCC  Student Ambassadors.

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow shall keep pro-life activists from saving lives. Thirty members from Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School attended the Right to Life March in Washington D.C on January 23, 2012. This event is held annually to help persuade Congress to reverse the decision of Roe v. Wade. When the group from VASJ arrived in D.C. on Monday morning they first attended Mass at the St. Mary Mother of God church before participating in the march.

This year, more than 100,000 Americans came to join in civil protest; through marching, chanting, making signs and props to illustrate their repugnance for the 1973 ruling. The energy was high with the people yelling, “Pro-choice that’s a lie, babies never choose to die!” For 18 VASJ students, it was their first time attending the march in Washington D.C. In all it was a day to join in civil protest and express powerful opinions and something I was glad to be a part of.

O.H. Perry students celebrate Molly Day

Every October since the death of his daughter, struck and killed by a van on her way to school 32 years ago, Senator and Mrs. George Voinovich have returned to O.H. Perry School to remember 9-year-old Molly and to show their support for the Major Work Program – the gifted and talented program Molly loved.

On Oct. 21, O.H. Perry students remembered Molly at the annual “Molly Day” with a musical tribute spanning nine decades, beginning with the Roaring ’20s. Afterward, Sen. and Mrs. Voinovich presented their annual gift to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s programs for gifted and talented students, and thanked those in attendance for the 32nd tribute to Molly.

As part of its mission to improve literacy across the spectrum in Cuyahoga County, The Literacy Cooperative is releasing a series of public education and advocacy briefs focused on addressing systemic and institutional barriers that impact secondary-school credential holders who have earned a high school diploma or GED but are not prepared for postsecondary education or workforce success and are therefore unemployed or underemployed. 

Issued October 26, 2011, the first of these briefs, titled The Economic Case for Literacy, paints a clear picture of the economic incentives for Cuyahoga County to address barriers to academic success, in particular, postsecondary success – from higher employability and significantly higher lifetime individual earnings to increased tax revenues and decreased public costs.

“Even one year of post secondary education leads… to increases of 4 to 7% in per capita output [for businesses]," states The Economic Case for Literacy.  “[Furthermore] the earnings gap between high school diploma holders [and those with a higher level of education]… is now estimated to be as wide as 84%.”

continued.

Children at O.H. Perry K-8 School will release helium-filled balloons on Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 9-11 am, to celebrate the Cuyahoga County regional launch of the state-wide website www.redtreehouse.org .  The balloons will carry a message announcing the website’s availability!  OH Perry K-8 School was selected because of its strong commitment to family/school/community partnerships and educational opportunities.  O.H. Perry is located at 18400 Schenely Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44119.

 A collaboration between Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland and Ohio Family and Children First Council, with support from many state agencies and organizations, www.redtreehouse.org  helps families and professionals promote the wellbeing of children and young adults, from birth to age 25.  This includes the specific needs of families with a child with a disability.

The website offers three main types of support for families and professionals:

 · Resources, guides and tool-kits (“how to” information with examples)

· Contact information for organizations (the go-to person and how to reach them)

· Calendar of events, training and activities (opportunities to learn more)

continued.

                The students of the UBC Job Corps, Cleveland Job Corps Center, attended a field trip Friday August 19, 2011 to a work-in-progress construction project-The Cleveland Medical Mart. The project is the largest, publically funded construction project in the entire United States. The total estimated cost is presently Four Hundred Sixty-five Million Dollars. It is being constructed at the location of the former Cleveland Convention Center. Once completed, the facility will offer one million square feet of Class A exhibit space with many additional amenities. One such amenity is a Grand Ballroom with foodservice to accommodate 2,500 guests; which will be the largest of its kind in Cleveland.

continued.

Ms. Arlene Anderson Founder/CEO of Minority Business Solution is a board member of Cleveland Job Corps Center, Center Industry Board. The CJCC Industry Board’s purpose is to work with employers, community leaders, business leaders to created work base learning opportunity and Jobs. In the past, MBS has hired a Cleveland Job Corps Graduate.

Ms. Anderson invited Michael E. Taylor Business and Community Liaison to meet with Duane Johnson Director of Public Relation for M.M.P.I. This meeting led to discussing future job opportunities; also present was the Center Director, Modesto Gloria.  In addition to this very productive meeting, they toured the Cleveland Job Corps Center and received an overview of the vocational training programs:    Bricklaying, Sign and Display, HBA Faculty Maintenance, Carpentry, LPN program, STNA, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Tech, Medical Office Support and education programs:  Penn Foster High School diploma, GED, Career Transition Program, Advance Career Training Partnership with Cuyahoga Community College.

Mr. David Lummus, Lead Instructor for the UBC Carpentry Program and the carpentry students toured the Med Mart site and met with workers and a supervisor on site. The CJCC will be back in December to witness steel being poured and observe weather conditions that they will have to work in. This is the beginning of a long term partnership.

  If  you are interested in becoming a Community partners with the Cleveland Job Corps Center please contact Michael E. Taylor, Business and Community Liaison at 216-469-5711.l 

Imagine Bella Academy of Excellence has a lot to be proud of these days.  They recently received many honors for their outstanding accomplishments this year.  The School recently received a 2011 National Promising Practices Award for The Bella Ball, a specific and unique character development initiative on the campus. 

The Character Education Partnership (CEP), the leading national advocate for character education, announced its annual Promising Practices in Character Education award to 260 schools and districts from across the United States as well as Mexico and Puerto Rico. Nearly 500 applicants submitted practices for recognition. The Imagine Schools National Office as well as eleven Imagine campuses, including Imagine Bella Academy of Excellence, received Promising Practices awards in 2011. This is the second consecutive year the school has won the award.

These awards highlight the unique, effective, and specific strategies used on campuses to help students become better citizens, friends, and leaders. The Bella Ball was an initiative that involved parents, students and community members to promote proper etiquette, Imagine’s Shared Values and excellence in character through ballroom dancing. 

continued.

As the final step in the first year of the nationally recognized SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids) program’s implementation in Cuyahoga County, The Literacy Cooperative, in collaboration with Invest in Children and Family Connections, is hosting a series of Kindergarten Kickoffs at its SPARK schools in order to help facilitate a smooth transition for children and their parents or caregivers from preschool, daycare or home-care into kindergarten.  

continued.

Nadia Tate of Collinwood High school had the recent privilage of being chosen for the Ohio State Fair Band. 

The All-Ohio State Fair Band was founded in 1925 and continues its tradition of exceptional music in the 21st century. Composed of 200 superior musicians from 85 high schools in 47 counties from across Ohio, the AOSFB is a testament to the musical talents of young Ohioans. 

continued.

IDentiphoto Company, LTD., is pleased to partner with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) on the implementation of its Priority Recognition Increased Data & Efficiency (P.R.I.D.E) initiative.  This program offers CMSD three components for this initiative; student identification badges, visitor management, and a student information/discipline management system. 

With the start of the 2011-2012 school year, CMSD’s Division of Safety and Security will require students to wear an ID badge at all times during the school day.  This enables school security and staff to quickly identify students who are authorized to be in the building. In addition, the ID incorporates a unique barcode that is utilized for cataloging various activities and transactions such as cafeteria checkout, media center, hallways and processing tardy students.

continued.

In the late 1960s, young Richard Osborne’s numerous extracurricular activities as a student at St. Joseph High School included responsibility for writing the weekly “Viking Views” column for the local community newspapers, the Euclid News-Journal and the Collinwood Scoop.

           As things turned out, that task proved to be a stepping stone to a distinguished career in journalism and publishing. Now, Osborne is retracing his steps--but in the opposite direction.

            A member of the 1969 St. Joe graduating class, he is retiring from the publishing business, where he most recently served as editor and publisher of the award-winning Ohio Magazine, to become the new President at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High. (The president oversees the financial and operational side of the school, while the principal is primarily concerned with the academic environment.)

cont.